RESURGENT City of York men’s II climbed out of the Yorkshire Hockey League premier division relegation zone with a 3-1 win over Sheffield University Bankers III.

The City second string saved their best performance of the season for the last game of 2013, and they head into the Christmas and New Year break on the back of three wins in four games.

Having crashed 5-2 at the hands of Bankers earlier the season, City of York went out looking to avenge that defeat and get back on track after the previous week’s disappointment against Adel.

The opening exchanges saw very few clear opportunites for either side.

Bankers then forced three successive penalty corners, finally making the pressure tell to take the lead from the third.

The York clearance fell to a Bankers attacker wide on the ‘D’, and he was able to flick the ball home.

York put the setback behind them and soon equalised. A counter-attack was started by James Greenall and he found Jonny Scott, who put a ball into the ‘D’ for Dan Tompkins to level.

York always looked dangerous going forward, but had to remain alert at the back, with both Roz Ramli and David Clamp making important clearances.

The intensity of York’s play in the second half showed no signs of letting up, and they took the lead when great play down the left by Tompkins created space for the cross, which was brilliantly touched home over the ‘keeper by top scorer Alex Fletcher.

With Bankers clearly tiring and having to push forward for an equaliser, they were leaving gaps at the back for York to expose on the counter-attack.

From one such counter with five minutes to go, Fletcher won a penalty corner and Tompkins was on hand to deflect home Peter Perryman’s strike.

Despite being reduced to ten men for dissent for the final two minutes, City held on untroubled.

City of York return to action on Saturday, January 11, when they travel to bottom side Leeds Gryphons III.

Meanwhile, City of York V are fourth in division four north after their 6-0 victory over City of York VI.

The fifth team led 1-0 at half-time through Andy Brewster’s goal and turned the screw in the second period to score another five goals.

There were four goals from Glyn Brookes Humphrey, plus one for Nick Carter.

Fifth-placed City of York ladies II lost 3-2 at home to Leeds University III in the Yorkshire League premier division.